Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/DCS Vol.9, No.4, 2019 Health Problems in Zvimba Rural and Communal Areas in Zimbabwe Takudzwa Mhandu 1 Thandi F. Khumalo 2 Maxwell C.C. Musingafi 3* 1.Great Zimbabwe University, Department of Demography and Population Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences 2.University of Eswatini, Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences 3.Zimbabwe Open University, Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences Abstract This study was carried out to determine people’s health problems in Zvimba district in Mashonaland West Province. The research employed the survey research design to solicit data since it was found to be the most appropriate for this study as it was capable of capturing the respondents’ views towards health issues in Zvimba district fast enough to meet both the time frame and the demands of the study. It involved 189 participants in an easily definable geographical area. These respondents comprised 135 communal dwellers who visited clinic or hospital the same day one of the researchers passed through the clinic or the hospital collecting data for the study, plus 54 professional health workers who accepted to participate in the study. The study used questionnaires and interviews for the collection of data. Research results showed that malaria and diarrhoea were the most prevalent diseases with the highest frequency rates among other diseases. The study recommends increase in the number of clinics, availability of low cost public transport, upgrade of road network links and community engagement in health awareness programmes. Keywords : People, health, health problems, rural, communal, Zvimba, Zimbabwe DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-4-09 Publication date : April 30 th 2019 1. Orientation This study sought to investigate people’s health problems in Zvimba district, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe. The study was confined to a single district, Zvimba district in Mashonaland west province. The district is one of the top health care providers with more health care centres than other rural districts in Zimbabwe (Mhandu and Chazireni, 2016; Chazireni and Harmes, 2013). Zvimba district is in central northern Zimbabwe. bordered by Guruve district to the north, Mazowe district to the east, the city of Harare to the southeast, Chegutu district to the south, Kadoma district to the southwest and Makonde district to the west and northwest. Its capital, Murombedzi, is located about 110 kilometres west of Harare and 48 kilometres south of the town of Chinhoyi. With a total population of 263,020 (ZIMSTATS, 2014), Zvimba has a large population which depends upon small scale subsistence farming of mainly cereals and a variety of cash crops like tobacco, beans and potatoes. These farming activities are promoted by the presence of rich fertile soils of intrusive and extrusive volcanic origins and prevalence of perennial water sources like Darwendale Dam where fishing also takes place. The district lies within the savannah climate with an annual reliable rainfall of not less than 850mm and an average summer temperature of 26 degrees Celsius more suitable for a variety of commercial and subsistence farming activities. Most of the economically active population is employed in large scale tobacco commercial farms and chrome mining activities along parts of the Great Dyke which pass through the district. 69 Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/DCS Vol.9, No.4, 2019 Fig. 1: The Study Area Map (Source: Research Data) 2. Methodology The research used instruments like questionnaires, interviews and observations. Statistical tables, graphs, charts, trends and percentages were used to quantify and compare data on the most common type of problems, challenges as well as the frequently requested solutions to the people’s problems. 3. Gender distribution in Zvimba district , The respondents consisted of 77 females and 58 males translating to 57% females and 43% males? This means that at the time of the study, more females visited the clinics and hospitals than their male counterparts in Zvimba District. They were either directly seeking medical health or being responsible with the sick whom they accompanied to the clinic for medical attention. This is presented in a graphical form below. It is vital to note that Zimbabwean population consists of more women than men. Hence, the proportion can be a direct effect of that discrepancy. Woman are also more involved in taking care of the sick than men especially considering our cultural set up. Therefore, in clinics and hospitals where the sick are taken to such environments- it can be by such reasons that females can dominate those environments. Zvimba is a rural area which means most economically active men would have migrated to the nearby busy capital city Harare and the tourist town of Chinhoyi leaving women behind. 70 Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/DCS Vol.9, No.4, 2019 Fig.2: Gender distribution of respondents: (Source: Research Data) 4. Age groups of sampled population in Zvimba district Extracted information concerning age groups of respondents revealed the information exhibited in Fig 3. The graph reveals that the highest number of people who visited clinics and hospitals in Zvimba area were between the age group of 26-35 years old. This was followed by the 36-45 years age group. The least group of people or respondents who visited the medical centres were the 56 years group. This can be because the 26-35 age group were more vulnerable to disease as they were highly involved in sexual activities especially with the poorly performing Zimbabwean economy. Therefore, most people die before reaching old age. The rate of outmigration in Zimbabwe is generally high and thus Zvimba district is not an exception. It is also affected by high outmigration of highly qualified and experienced people who have reached the apex of their career. This deprives the above 46 years of their population. Fig 3: Percentage of ages of respondents who visit clinics and hospitals in Zvimba District: (Source: Research Data) 71 Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/DCS Vol.9, No.4, 2019 5. Levels of education of Zvimba district habitants who responded to questionnaires. Fig 4 shows that the highest number of the Zvimba population have ordinary level certificates at 44% followed by Zimbabwe Junior certificates (ZJC) holders at 20%. The results directly depict that Zimbabwean education’s basic level is ordinary level (‘O’ level). It is mandatory in Zimbabwe for all learners to reach ‘O’ level. Therefore, respondents were literate enough to understand health issues. Thus results from this study can be regarded as valid and a true reflection of the situation on the ground. Fig. 4: levels of education of respondents: (Source: research data) 6. The medical assistance which people in Zvimba district received from government and Non- Governmental Organisations Medical assistance respondents received from government or NGOs: mosquito nets from NGOs (frequency 127/135 (94%); water treatment drugs and water pills (frequency 82/135 (61%); clinics and hospitals; (frequency 23/135 (17%); free treatment (frequency 13/135 (9.6%); ARVs (frequency 41/135 (30%); boreholes (frequency 17/135 (13%); counselling services from NGOs organisations (frequency 2/135 (1.4%); free condoms (frequency 16/135 (12%); free vaccination of children; (frequency 10/135 (7.4%); oral sachets for diarrhoea from NGOs (frequency 52/135 (39%); and maize for food provision periodically (frequency 4/135 (3%). The fact that the highest percentage of respondents visited health centres for mosquito nets and water treatment drugs reflects that this area could be malaria and other waterborne disease infested. 7. Occupation of sampled population who visited clinics and hospitals in Zvimba district. Table 1: Occupation of Respondents in Zvimba District: (Source: Research Data) Occupation Frequency or percentage of respondents Farmers 39 (29%) Civil servants 24 (18%) Domestic workers 34 (25%) Mining 10 (7%) Buying and selling 23 (17%) Private employment 7 (5%) 72 Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) DOI: 10.7176/DCS Vol.9, No.4, 2019 Fig. 5: Occupation of respondents who visited clinics and hospitals in Zvimba district: (Source: Research Data) Most people in Zvimba district are involved in farming activities since the district is a farming dominated area. The second largest occupation is domestic workers with 25% a reflection of low order jobs dominating the district. 8. Average distance travelled by Zvimba district population to seek medical attention: The table below shows the results. Table 2: Average distance travelled by Zvimba dwellers to the nearest clinic or hospital: (Source: Research Data) Average distance Frequency and percentage of respondents 1-2km 11 (8%) 3-4km 31 (23%) 5-6km 32 (24%) 7-8km 26 (19%) 9-10km 21 (15%) 11-12km 9 (6%) 13-14km 9 (6%) From the above results it is evident that the average distance travelled by most Zvimba district dwellers is between 6-9 kilometres. The impact of such a distance is that the vulnerable age groups like the young, the aged, the seriously ill and the disabled might not have been visiting medical centres. Yet they required frequent health care services. These vulnerable groups could not sustain long walks in an area where transport was scarce. Most of those who visited medical centres traveled on foot to reach the nearest clinic or hospital. Thus, most cases of poor health or disease occurrence were not given immediate attention because of the distance problems. 9. Common problem diseases for households in Zvimba district. Table 3 shows that malaria, diarrhoea, headaches, colds and flu dominated the list of common diseases in Zvimba district.